Impressionism was born in France in the 1860s and radically transformed the history of Western art. The Impressionists broke with academic conventions by painting directly from nature (en plein air), capturing the changing effects of light and atmosphere with loose brushstrokes and pure juxtaposed colors. The movement takes its name from Claude Monet's work "Impression, Sunrise." It paved the way for all the avant-garde movements of the 20th century.
Main characteristics
- ●Outdoor painting (plein air)
- ●Visible and gestural brushstrokes
- ●Pure unmixed colors on canvas
- ●Capture of natural light and its changes
- ●Everyday subjects: landscapes, cafés, dancers
Key works
- Impression, Sunrise – Monet
- Le Moulin de la Galette – Renoir
- The Dance Class – Degas